Category: Harry Gem
We are delighted to report that the fund for conservation of this important document, held in the archives at The Library of Birmingham, has reached the minimum required to commission the work.
Click here for Leamington History Group‘s new video about the Spa. This includes the story of lawn tennis in the town, Harry Gem, Perera and the Renshaw twins in particular. See section starting around 3.30. Note that one of the…
In this newspaper article from 1934 Dr. Frederic H. Haynes reminisces about the early days of lawn tennis. Along with T.H. Gem, J.B.L.A. Perera and Dr. Arthur W. Tomkins, Haynes founded the world’s first lawn tennis club in the grounds…
A particularly interesting description of the development of lawn tennis through to 1877 and the first Championships at the All England Club, Wimbledon. This by George Alexander in his 1974 book ‘Lawn Tennis, Its Founders & Its Early Days’. The…
Having successfully restored Harry’s grave in Warstone Lane, Birmingham, UK and erected blue plaques on the locations of his and his co-lawn tennis pioneer Augurio Perera’s homes in Leamington Spa, we turn our attention to the restoration of Harry’s scrapbook….
Our booklet is now available. The booklet itself is free but we have to make a small charge to recoup post and packing costs. To order click ‘Booklet’ in the menu bar above.
Here’s an article from the Birmingham Post of 3rd June 2000 telling the story of Gem and Perera. Since then it has been established that Gem and Perera’s game dates from as early as 1859, not 1865 and their Leamington…
On Wednesday 16th October 2019 blue plaques were unveiled in honour of Harry Gem and Augurio Perera in Leamington Spa. We are pleased to have cooperated in this project with Robert Nash, Town Clerk of Royal…
The restored grave of Harry Gem, Victorian lawn tennis pioneer, was unveiled on Wednesday, 26th June 2019, by Ann Jones, who this year celebrates the golden anniversary of her winning the singles title at the Wimbledon Championships in 1969. Guests…
The former home of Augurio Perera, lawn tennis pioneer, in Avenue Road, Royal Leamington Spa. This is located just along the road from the Manor House Hotel where Perera and Harry Gem, together with doctors Haynes and Tomkins, founded the…